Volleyball Downs East Carolina in Dig Pink Game

Sunday, October 18

McGonigle Hall

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

15-5, 6-2American

ECU

10-9, 3-5American

ECU

Temple University

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Volleyball Downs East Carolina in Dig Pink Game

10.18.15 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team battled back from a first-set loss to top visiting East Carolina, 3-1, in American Athletic Conference action on Sunday afternoon at McGonigle Hall. After dropping set one, 25-18, the Owls responded with three-straight wins, 25-22, 25-12, and 25-23, to move to 15-5 overall, 6-2 in The American. ECU dips to 10-9 overall, 3-5 in conference play.

Temple sophomore Irem Asci recorded a double-double with 22 kills and 10 digs, while junior Tyler Davis racked up 16 kills, recording just one error to hit .438. Sophomore Izzy Rapacz had a 10-kill effort, with junior Kirsten Overton adding nine and sophomore Janine Simmons contributing five. Freshman Hannah Vandegrift and senior Sandra Sydlik split the setting duties, as Vandegrift notched 30 assists and Sydlik had 26, while also adding nine digs. Defensively, senior Alyssa Drachslin recorded 20 digs, while sophomore Dara Peric added 10 to go along with five aces.

After a 1-1 tie in set one, ECU grabbed a lead which it did not relinquish. The Pirates crept out to a 10-5 advantage before three-straight Temple points closed the gap to 10-8. ECU responded with three kills and pair of blocks during a 7-3 run, as the visitors went up, 17-11. Temple cut the lead to 17-14, backed by a Peric ace and an Asci kill, but ECU pushed ahead to close out the 25-18 win.

It was Temple with the early lead in set two, as kills from Asci and Davis and another ace from Peric gave the Owls a 10-6 advantage. ECU battled back to tie the match at 12-12 and then later took a lead on a Temple error to make it 14-13 Pirates. After the teams traded side-outs to make it 17-17, Temple used a 5-2 run to take a 22-19 lead on an Asci kill. ECU was able to score two in a row to make it 22-21, but Temple scored two of the set's final three points to tie the match with a 25-22 win.

Set three was all Temple as the Owls opened with a 7-2 run and didn't look back. The cherry and white hit .389 in the frame, holding ECU to just a .077 clip. Temple used long serving runs from Overton and Peric to open up a 19-6 advantage, before ECU closed the gap slightly with a five unanswered points that made it 19-11. The Owls were able to close it out, however, as two Rapacz kills and one each from Davis and Overton made it 25-12 Temple.

The fourth set was another back-and-forth stanza that featured 14 ties and five lead changes. The Owls opened with a 9-5 lead, puncuated by a Drachslin ace, before ECU responded with a 5-1 run to knot the match at 10-10. Both teams took slim leads from there, Temple at 17-14 and ECU at 21-19 before the match was again tied, this time at 21-21. After a Davis kill gave Temple a 22-21 edge, the teams went back-and-forth again, recording the 14th tie of the frame at 23-23. Temple then grabbed the set and the match as back-to-back attack errors from ECU gave the Owls the victory.

Today's match served as Temple's "Dink Pink" game, benefitting the Side-Out Foundation's breast cancer support and research. Fans can still make donations to the cause at: https://www.side-out.org/cb/campaigns/campaign/10939

Temple is back in action next weekend with a pair of home matches. The Owls take on on Houston on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before battling Tulane on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Temple students can pick up a free ticket to the Temple-Notre Dame football game at Friday's Houston match. Students must have their TUID with them to get a ticket. One ticket per Temple student will be given out on a first come first serve basis, based on availability.

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights/Interviews

To invest in Temple Athletics and enhance the experience for our Volleyball student-athletes, make a gift to the Owl Club today by clicking here.